Types and 5 Ways to Treat Paronychia

Healthy Living

What is paronychia?

Paronychia is a form of skin infection that occurs around the fingernails and toenails. Bacteria, Candida (yeast), or a combination of both microorganisms usually cause this infection. 

Paronychia may gradually or suddenly develop depending on the root cause of the infection. Its signs and symptoms are easily detected and treated with minimal to no damage to the nails and skin. However, in severe infections, partial or complete loss of the nail may result. 

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Types of Paronychia

There are two types of paronychia: acute and chronic. These conditions depend on the causative infecting agent, the speed of onset, and duration of the infection.  

• Acute Paronychia – An acute infection usually develops fast and typically occurs in the skin around the fingernails. It is often a result of skin damage around the nails due to physical trauma, manicure treatments, hangnails, nail biting, or picking. The common types of bacteria that can cause acute paronychia are Enterococcus and Staphylococcus.

• Chronic Paronychia – Chronic paronychia slowly develops and usually occurs both in the fingernails and toenails. It tends to last for some weeks and then recurs after some time. A chronic infection usually involves both bacteria and yeast (Candida). Chronic paronychia can be commonly seen in individuals who always wet their skin with water. Excessive and constant soaking in water can strip the cuticle’s natural barrier, which paves the way for bacteria and fungi to grow and multiply under the skin leading to an infection.

Treatment 

• Home Remedies – Home remedies can effectively treat mild cases of paronychia. If there is pus under your skin, try soaking the affected area using warm water. Do this remedy several times a day. When you are done, dry the area thoroughly. This remedy will help drain the pus on its own.

• Antibiotics – Antibiotics are usually prescribed for severe infections, and when home remedies fail to work.

• Abscess Draining – This method is done by your healthcare provider to drain fluids or abscesses from the blisters. Abscess draining usually speeds up the healing process as well as relieves discomfort. This procedure can also help avoid the spread of the infection.

Chronic paronychia can be more difficult to treat using home remedies. For this reason, you will need to visit a doctor for a more effective treatment. Doctors usually prescribe antifungal agents to treat the infection. However, surgery may be necessary in severe cases, where your nail is partially or completely removed. An anti-inflammatory topical treatment can also be prescribed by your doctor.

Let’s have a look at other treatment options for paronychia:

1. Oregano Oil

Oregano oil is known to contain antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which help in the removal of pus as well as treat any form of infection. To use oregano oil, apply three to four drops directly to the affected region and the surrounding cuticle. For better results, follow this process twice a day.

2. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is known to effectively help in treating a lot of skin-related issues. It possesses antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. However, tea tree oil must not be directly applied to the affected area. What you need to do is to first mix equal portions of tea tree oil and olive oil and then apply it to the affected nail and the surrounding region. Once applied, massage the area for at least 10 minutes and then leave it as it is. Do this process for two to three times a day.

3. Betel Leaves

Betel leaves are one of the oldest remedies for paronychia. Betel leaves contain antibacterial as well as antifungal properties. To use betel leaves, collect a few leaves and then crush them to make a paste. Now, apply this paste to the affected nail and then cover it with the help of a sterile gauze. Repeat this process on a daily basis and you will surely see good results in just a weeks’ time.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is also a popular home remedy used for the treatment of a lot of mild medical conditions. Its acid content is known to help in the killing of harmful microorganisms. To make use of this remedy, you would need to mix equal amounts of both water and apple cider vinegar into a small tub. Now, soak the affected region in this mixture for at least 20 minutes. You would need to repeat this process twice a day to get the best results.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a type of antiseptic used to sterilize wounds. To clean your wound, apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the affected region. The application of hydrogen peroxide can help clear the pus under the nail. 

One or a combination of the above-mentioned remedies can be done to help speed up the healing process. It is also important to have patience and allow home remedies to do its work. The regular and proper application of these home remedies can show effective results soon. However, if such remedies do not work, then it is highly recommended that you see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and suitable treatment. 

Protection

It is always best to keep yourself protected to prevent worsening the condition. Keeping the affected area dry can help in a faster recovery. Wear gloves to protect your hands from harsh chemicals. At the same time, ensure to apply barrier creams to keep the area moisturized while the cuticles are healing.

Avoid biting your nails and the cutting or tearing of the cuticles to prevent the occurrence of paronychia. Moreover, do not remove the cuticles when applying artificial nails.  

Those who have diabetes should ensure to carefully manage their blood sugar levels. Practice and maintain good hygiene by carrying out the proper handwashing habits. Avoid sharing your towels with other people to prevent the spread of infection. 

Outlook

Mild cases of acute paronychia have a good outlook. Such cases can be successfully treated with the least chance to recur. However, when infections are left untreated for a long period of time, it can also take a long time to heal. In severe cases, medical treatment using antibiotics is required. 

A chronic infection usually lasts for several weeks to months along with a longer recovery period. For this reason, it is important to treat paronychia early.  

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Ayurvedic treatment and Home remedies ⋆ Easy Ayurveda

Article by Prof. MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD.
Paronychia is the infectious condition of the hand or foot where the nail and skin meet at the side or the base of a finger or toenail. The infection can start suddenly or gradually. The incidence is common among the people who are engaged in household works.

Table of Contents

Causative factors

Common causative factors for Paronychia: 
Improper trimming of the cuticles or nail bed or edges
Contact of chemicals
Repeated exposure to cold/ aqueous matters
Injury to the nail beds or folds of the nail and finger
Nail biting
Finger sucking etc

Classification

Classification of Paronychia: 
According to its onset it is classified into two kinds as below-
Acute paronychia-which is caused suddenly due to the infections of the folds of tissue surrounding the nail of a finger. The infection usually starts at the side of the nail, with local redness, swelling, and pain. Direct or indirect trauma is the common cause behind such kind of acute manifestations.

Washing of the utensils, cloth wash, minor injury from a thorn, nail biting, biting, finger sucking, ingrown nail or improper manicure procedures etc are the factors causing such kind of diseased conditions.

Chronic paronychia is the infection of the folds of tissue surrounding the nail of a finger or a toe lasting for more than six weeks. The incident is common among the people whose hands or feet are subject to moist local environments repeatedly. Washer men (Dhobis), hospital workers, cleaners and house maids are the common sufferers of this kind of problems.

Aggressive trimming the cuticles, or frequent contact with chemicals is the another strong causative factors for this kind of problems.

Ayurvedic correlation

Paronychia-as per Ayurveda system of Medicine: 
Ayurveda refers Paronychia as Kunakha. The work Kunakha is derived by Ku (meaning-bad) and Nakha refers Nail.
So it is a bad nail condition caused due to unhygienic condition of the individual. Even though specific causative factors have been not referred, all factors referred in the above contexts can be considered as the true factors for the manifestation of Kunakha (Paronychia) as all are in supportive of unhygienic conditions.
Further, ‘unhygienic’ relates to the infections of the nail bed and hence paronychia is manifested.
So Acharyas of Ayurveda considered it as a Pitta dominant Tridoshaja condition.

Line of treatment

Line of treatment of Kunakha(Paronychia): 
The causative factor should be checked immediately. Further,the measures are adopted to pacify vata and Pitta dosha. Shothahara(anti inflammatory), Pittahara (non septic) and Shoolahara(anti inflammatory) medicaments are recommended.

Ayurvedic formulations

Formulations of choice in Kunakha(paronychia): 
For external application-
Jatyadi taila
Panchaguna taila
Ropana taila
Gandhakadya malahara
Jasadamrita malahara
Marma gulika etc

Internal medication-
Gandhaka rasayana
Triphala guggulu
Arogyavardhini
Bilvadi gulika
Nimbadi guggulu
Amritadi guggulu
Kaishora guggulu etc

Yoga mentioned in Sahasra yoga
1. Kulana Khattinu Kulambu

Home remedies

Home remedies for Paronychia (Kunakha): 
In acute conditions of Paronychia, a cotton cloth is soaked in warm water mixed with turmeric powder and that cloth is tied around the nail bed.3-4 times if it is carried considerable benefit is observed.

Beaten rice (Poha in Hindi) powder is mixed with a pinch of pepper and turmeric powder. This is spread around the nail bed and wrapped with a cloth for a day. This reduces the swelling and pain in paronychia.

Last drop
Ayurveda denotes each and every ill health condition which may be minor or major. It has explained relative treatment measures with appropriate doshic concepts and line of treatments.

The clever physician is free enough to make the decision while selecting formulation for such a cure. Great idea and general knowledge will do wonder in treating the diseases which may be minor or major disorder depending upon the time of manifestation and stage of the illness.

Why nails hurt after manicure – causes, elimination and prevention

November 23, 2022

Pain under the nails and in the area of ​​the periungual fold is an extremely common problem that can occur after visiting a salon or a private master. There are many reasons for this phenomenon: from individual reactions of the body to the components of varnishes, gel polishes, degreasers and other drugs used during the procedures, to mechanical effects during the processing of the cuticle and infection of injured surfaces.

If pain occurs under the nail or in the periungual space after nail procedures, you should consult a doctor, as they are often symptoms of inflammatory processes, which, if left untreated, lead to complications, deformation of the nail plates, the need for surgical intervention and a long recovery period. During the last one, you will have to forget about decorative manicure for at least 2 months.

Paronychia

Paronychia, periungual felon or inflammation of the periungual ridge is one of the most common diseases that all people face at least a couple of times in their lives, regardless of gender, age and frequency of visiting nail salons. It is characterized by:

• reddening of the skin around the nail plate;
• swelling of the periungual fold;
• constant throbbing pain;
• feeling of fullness under the nail;
• an increase in temperature in the area of ​​inflammation;
• the appearance of purulent blisters under the skin around the nail and a horseshoe-shaped formation in the area of ​​the hole;
• severe pain on touch and pressure;
• discharge of pus from the blisters after maturation.

Causes of occurrence

• One of the most common causes of paronychia is incorrect classical manicure and traumatic removal of the cuticle with tweezers or scissors.
• Poorly sterilized instruments made of poor quality steel exacerbate the problem. The smallest open wounds in the area of ​​​​the nail folds are instantly infected with pathogenic bacteria and lead to inflammation. Fungal infections, staphylococci, streptococci and other pathogenic bacteria multiply rapidly in the nail folds. Similar situations can arise even in respectable salons with professional craftsmen.
• Paronychia is often the result of trauma during aggressive sawing. A particularly vulnerable area is located at the point between the growing plate and the free edge of the nail.
• Provoke the disease can get into the subungual space of the primer.
• Injuries of the subungual space during correction of the length of the free edge.
• No less often the disease occurs with constant contact with the skin of the hands of chemicals. At risk are employees of chemical enterprises and laboratories, as well as lovers of artificial nail plates, which are built using methyl methacrylate, which negatively affects the skin.
• Pathological processes develop when the thin skin of the periungual fold is damaged as a result of rough removal or biting of burrs. Untreated burrs look unsightly, cause pain, bleed and can cause periungual cracks that allow bacterial and fungal infection to enter and cause inflammation.

Paronychia on the toes occurs when wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes.

Methods of treatment

Paronychia does not go away on its own and can cause severe damage and deformation of the nail plate. If you change the color of the nails, the development of purulent processes, increased pain, you must consult a doctor!

In the initial stage of the disease, treatment can be carried out using anti-inflammatory ointments, antiseptic dressings, antibiotic injections. In the advanced phase, surgical intervention is required with the opening of abscesses and removal of suppuration.

Damage to nails during extension and removal of gel polish

Pain under the nails occurs when the nail plates are damaged as a result of:

• intensive filing of an artificial nail together with a part of a natural one;
• excessive removal of the top layer of the natural nail plate before extension;
• injuries when using metal cutters in the process of removing layers of gel polish and gel. It is necessary to use ceramic cutters;
• rough removal of artificial nails and gel polish residues from natural plates with sharp metal objects;
• using acetone when removing gel polish. Fixing a cotton pad moistened with acetone on the old coating with foil caps has an extremely negative effect on the condition of the nails, causing a severe chemical burn;
• Wrong choice of files and cutters for natural nails in terms of abrasiveness and size.

When removing the old layer of gel polish and artificial nails, a lot of fine dust and debris is generated, which should be cleaned with a nail vacuum cleaner.

How to cure?

Damage received during the processing of nails with improperly selected tools, cutters and files:

Treated with antiseptic agents to eliminate the risk of pathogenic bacteria entering the wounds.

Coated with a leveling and strengthening composition – acrylate, gel, biogel, rubber base.

In case of deep lesions, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment and restoration of the natural nail plate.

Gel polish burns

Gel polishes create durable coatings that are resistant to moisture, water and mechanical stress, which last for at least 3 weeks and should not cause negative feelings for the user, since they are hypoallergenic. When buying varnishes, gel polishes and other materials, you need to carefully check the goods and choose products from only reliable brands. Products from unknown manufacturers can cause allergies and cause serious harm to health.

Pain under the nails sometimes occurs after applying a decorative coating of gel polish or shellac. This is due to the following factors:

• exposure to an acidic primer, which serves to enhance the adhesion of the artificial material to the natural nail plate, can cause pain in weak and thin nails. In such cases, an acid-free primer must be used. The acid preparation can only be applied to strong and healthy nails. During the procedure, it is necessary to ensure that the composition does not get on the skin, since it causes chemical burns of the III degree;
• allergic reactions to components of gel polishes, shellac, nail and skin care products;
• the use of low quality materials – causes burning, redness, inflammation in the periungual zone;
• Burning nails with a UV or LED lamp when the exposure time is exceeded or the power of the device is too high – causes a burning sensation and discomfort at each stage of drying. The problem is solved by replacing the lamp.

Important!

Pain in the process of applying gel polish appears when the base coat dries in the lamp. After the base hardens, the pain disappears.

Burn symptoms

Nail burns are indicated by symptoms such as:

• constant pain, burning, rash;
• detachment of the nail from the bed (onycholysis), which develops within a few days or weeks after visiting the master. Under a layer of gel polish, the process goes unnoticed and can lead to serious complications;
• Simultaneously with onycholysis, there is a thickening of the stratum corneum (subungual hyperkeratosis), as a result of which the nail becomes spherical, its structure changes, becoming brittle and inelastic;
• discoloration of the nail, which is difficult to see under the gel polish. Subsequently, the affected area may be infected with a fungus (this causes yellowing), mold or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which stain the nails green;
• when small vessels of the nail bed are damaged, many black longitudinal strokes appear under the nail, similar to splinters.

Advice for reducing pain

If the client complains of pain characteristic of a burn, it is necessary to carry out a set of first aid procedures and recommend contacting a doctor:

• remove the cover to eliminate the cause of discomfort from chemical and thermal burns;
• treat nails with an antiseptic;
• Apply skin regeneration formulation to affected areas. Suitable ointments such as Bepanten or Panthenol;
• to restore the structure of the nail plate, apply restorative varnish;
• to warn the client that they should refrain from applying gel polish for at least 2-3 months.

Methods of treatment

The treatment of onycholysis caused by chemical or thermal burns is almost the same as the treatment of traumatic onycholysis. The exfoliated parts of the nail are removed surgically, gelatin solutions and growth activators are used to treat and restore nail growth. When infected with a fungus, mold or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, therapy with antibacterial and antimycotic drugs is carried out.

Features of the nail plates and skin

Pain in the nail area after a visit to a nail salon occurs when the nail plate is too thin and fragile, dry skin and capillaries close to the surface. In such cases, when applying or removing the gel polish coating, the master should carefully carry out the procedures for preparing the nail surface, use gentle formulations, apply a glossy coating in thin layers, and reduce the drying time in the lamp.

If there is damage to the nails, the client should be persuaded to stop applying gel polish for a while.

How to avoid pain after a manicure salon?

Pain after applying a decorative coating most often occurs in girls with weakened nails, so do not neglect the following recommendations:

• perform a set of procedures to treat, restore and strengthen the structure of the stratum corneum;
• temporarily abandon gel polish, shellac, nail extensions;
• take vitamins and minerals;
• eat right;
• lead a healthy lifestyle.

Quite often, the poor condition of the nails indicates chronic diseases that occur without pronounced symptoms. Weak exfoliating nail plates do not withstand the severity of the coatings and severe pain occurs in the periungual space.

Inflammation near the nail (paronychia). Panaritium

Treatment of inflammation around the nail
(panaritium, paronychia)

• Stellanin ointment – an innovative drug for the rapid treatment of panaritium

When treating the periungual fold, the main question is how to quickly relieve inflammation , prevent purulent infection and restore healthy skin fold .

Inflammation begins at the edge of the nail plate due to various microtraumas (small cracks, burrs). If the process is not stopped, then pus may spread under the base of the nail (subungual felon), when surgery is already required (opening the abscess).

Treatment of panaritium is important to start immediately (at the beginning of the inflammatory process) and correctly – in order to quickly exclude the spread of the process.
We recommend you a drug that was originally developed jointly with scientists from the Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery (Moscow) for the treatment of skin and soft tissue wounds in especially difficult cases.
Stellanin ointment has amazing properties – it quickly relieves inflammation, prevents infection from getting into the wound, and most importantly, significantly increases the rate of regeneration of young healthy skin.

Such a rapid healing effect is due to the fact that Stellanin is a complex compound – the organic part of the molecule affects the activity of the cell’s gene apparatus, powerfully activating regeneration processes in it. At the same time, the inorganic part of the molecule has a pronounced effect on the entire spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms.

It is especially important that all pathogens of wound infection do not possess either natural or acquired resistance to Stellanin.

Effects of the drug STELLANIN ^® :

1. BLOCK INFLAMMATORY – prevents the synthesis of inflammation mediators – prostaglandins. As a result of a decrease in the level of these mediators , the inflammatory process stops , pain and swelling are eliminated .
2. STIMULATES SKIN REGENERATION – Stellanin repeatedly activates mitochondrial function and increases their size. This mechanism has a direct effect of Stellanin on the regeneration of a young, healthy skin fold.
3. HAS HIGH ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms that cause skin infections.

Feedback on the application (published by the user on the site Otzovik.com):

“. .. My daughter had a long, non-passing wound on her finger, she damaged the burr near the nail. I tried to sprinkle with Baneocin powder, the wound dried up, but did not go away. So I decided to cure it with Stellanin. We used the ointment only at night. I applied a small amount of ointment the size of a small pea.A sterile bandage was put on top and a sock was put on top so that the bandage would not fly off at night … On the second day, the procedure was repeated, I did not notice any special changes.But the redness subsided.But on the third day, the result was amazing . The wound has healed completely!. “ (User Hromka)

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